Automatic golf tee



AUTOMATIC GOLF TEE 2 Sheets-sheet. l

Filed Aug. 27, 1929 7 u m .r ,ff/ 5 f. 2 m.. mm ,f n. Mm 1 W 5 u W M r. 0 a, 3 y

mv A.

VENTOR.

A TTO R N EY.

' R. w. IRISH AUTOMATIC GOLF TEE Filed Aug. ,27, 1929 Aug. 18, 1931. 1,819,896

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

F. W IRfSH A TTORNE Y.

Patented ug. 18, 1931 AUnirse .siArEs RUSH W. IRISH, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF` THOMAS, JR., OF CANON CITY, .COLORADO @PATENT oFF-LGBT TO VJOHN rP.

AUTOMATIC GOLF Application `filed August 27, 1929. Serial No. '388,757'.

This invention relates to automatic golf tees.

The general object of the invention is to provide an automatic tee which is simple in 5 construction and which is adjustable to suit varying conditions. v

A more specific object of my invention is to provide an automatic golf tee including a receptacle having associated therewith a 10 golf ball supporting stem which is adjustably mounted.

' A further object of my invention is to provide anautomatic tee including a support, a shaft, and a stem and wherein the stem in- 15 cludes novel means Jfor receiving` and support-ing the golf ball.

An additional object ofmy invention is to provide an improved receptacle for an automatic golf tee. l

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel combined tee and indicating diagram whereby the golfer may quickly and correctly assume the correct position tor striking a golf ball. p

A still further object oi my invention is to provide an automatic goli tee including a receptacle having a rubber cover whereby the impact oi the club against the receptacle will not cause injury to either.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the attached drawings wherein z' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee 35 embodying the features of my invntiOIl.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through my improved auto matie golf tee.

Fig. 3 is a top view of my invention.

Fig. l is a section taken on line 4 4.- of Fig. 2 with the brace removed.

Fig. 5 is a section taken online 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of one of bearing supports.

Fig. 'i' is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the golf ball support in an estreme advance position.

Fig. '8 is anvenlarged side view partly in section oithe golf ball' supporting device, and y n 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of a inodilied form ofgolf ball supporting device.

ln the accompanying drawings I- have indicatedmyimproved tee generally at 10. This tee, as shown, comprises a receptacle indicated. generally -at 11. This `receptacle comprises a sleeve 12 which is shown as including side walls 13 and end-walls 1 4. The sleeve, las shown, has neither Atop nor bottom but is provided with an inner case 15 which is telescopical'ly received within the sleeve 12..

This case off of invertedU shape and includes a top 16'and side walls 17. The case preterably has a tight sliding fit within the sleeve.

The' receptacle maybe used as described or I may provide it with a cover indicated generallyat 19. This cover includes a topl 20 and a peripheral flange 21 which: its over ithe sleeve k12. I now prefer to umake vthe Asleeve and case out of suitable non-corrodable metal and to makethe cover out of rubber, butthe particular vmaterial employed may 'be varied without departing from'the spirit of my in`` i vention. v

lIn order to strengthen the ycase 15 I may arrange a transverse brace 22 across the bot tom thereof and in order to limit the downward movement of the casein the sleeve I may provide the latter with lugs |23 as shown.

The top 16 andthe top 20 are provided with aligning apertures 24 and the top 2() has a flange 25 which extends through the 'aperture into the lr-eceptacle V11. lThis flange has a downwardly extending resilientfin 26 thereon, the purpose `of which will b e presently described. l The flange 25 also has converging vanes 27 thereon, these vanes being resilient. The cover 16 preierablyhas longitudinally extending*corrugations 28 thereon,V while the top -20`has similar eorrugations "29. These corrugatioiis serve to aid in directing the club head so that an accurate stroke may be made and the corrugations also stiiien the parts thereby preventing denting when struck by the club head and moreover the corrugations prevent the club head from losing its velocity when the player inadvertentlyicauses the club headto strike behind the ball.

be soldered to a sidewall as at 34. The front portion of each bearing support is provided with a slot which is enlarged at the upper end as at 36 and is provided at its lower part with a lateral branch37 below. which is located a deflecting portion 38. deflecting portion 38 I provide a notch which affords a bearing surface 39 andabove this at a distance suitable to the requirements I arrange aV second notch which provides a bearing surface 40. The notches and the bearing surfaces in the opposed bearing supports are in alignment.

My golf ball supporting device per se includes a shaft 41 which has a disc 42 thereon. The disc may be cast about the shaft 0r the disc and shaft may be made separable and assembled or the parts may be made otherwise as desired. The shaft 41 is adapted to be seated on the bearing surface 39 or the bearing surface 40 depending on whether a ,high or low tee is desired as will be under stood from the following description.

The disc is provided Vwith a slot 43 having a lateral branch 44. A resilient stem 45 made from a strip of spring steel having a lower curved end 46 is arranged in the slot 43 and the relation of parts is such that the llower end of the spring will have a tight drivingfit with the slot so thatrwhen inserted and driven home it will remain in the xed position.

The spring 45 will be made of material having the propercharacteristics for the purpose intended and the upper endof the spring is shown as fitted in a slot 47 in a holding member 48. This spring may be held in Yplace by a rivet 49. A rubber supporting ead for a golfballis indicated generally at 51 and includes spaced upper and lower shoulders 51 and has a central aperture 52 in which a threaded ferrule 53 is securedr The upper end portion of the holding member is threaded as at 54. The head has al tapering side wall 55 thereon at each end. u

The supportinghead for the golf ball is reversible yand is made of vulcanized rubber so that it remains elastic whereby the head may be quickly removed and reversed or an-v other head may be substituted.

. By referring to the drawings -it'may be noted that the bearing surfaces 39 and 40 are remote from the top 20 and the spring 45 is ofv such a length that the upper portion 55 of thehead 51 will project through the aperture Q4 while the top shoulder 51'; will be disposed beneath the ltop 20 so that there will be no Beneath the possibility of the club head striking the shoulder 50.

In order to return the head 51 to normal substantially vertical position I provide a recess 56 in the disc 42 and in this recess I secure a rod 57 as by threads. This rod 57 may be provided with a suitable weight 58 which may be secured on the end thereof.

In order to supplement the action of the weight 58 I may provide a block 59 secured to the side walls 17 and having a leaf spring 6() secured thereto. The leaf spring has a curved portion 61 which normally is disposed adjacent .tothe stem 45 and in the path of movement of the later so that as the stem 45 moves when a ball resting on the head 51y is struck the spring 61 will retard the movement of `the stem and will assist in returning A the stem to normal position.

bedded in the concrete when the latter is poured and after this is done the case may be inserted. If a cover is employed with the tee suitable provision for the cover flanges will be made in the base 63.

n use my automatic tee is preferably built 5,

o rlhe linoleum pieces 64 may be provided uf,

with suitable geometric designs 65 shown as squares which are so spaced relatively to the head 51 that the players feet will intersect certain of the lines .defining the squares. All of the tees of a course will have the markings 65 similarly arranged s-o that the player can quicklv and accurately take his correct stance thereby assuring van accurate driving posi tion, while at the same time hastening play. By having one of my improved tees at his home the'player can study out his correct stance and by noting the position of his feet he willberable to assume the saine stance when he is actually playing on the course.

After the receptacle has been installed the stem 4.5 and associated parts is taken up and by holding the end portion of the head 51 the shaft 41 is inserted through the wide por'- tion 36 into the slot 35i whence it drops so that the shaft 41 rests on the bearing surfaces 39 as shown in the drawings. If a low tee is desired the stem is allowed to remain in the position it assumed.

If a high tee is desired the operator will grasp theend'of the head 51 and will pull it upwardly causing the shaft 41 to 'strike the deilecting portion 38 thereby causing Athe shaft to move laterally due to its engagement with the deflecting portion. donc the head is released and vthe shaft will drop onto the bearing surfaces 40.

Vhen the tee is in the position desired the player places hisball upon the 'head 51 4and after assuming his position strikes the ball thereby causes itto fly away and causing the After this is release tee to swing about the shaft 41. In its movement the tee head will strike the vanes 2T and will later strike the lin 26, thereby causing a decrease in the speed of the tee head. The tee head will then be urged to normal position by means of the weight 58 and the spring 61.

In Fig. 9, I show a slight modification of my invention, wherein the shaft 41 has a disc 42, rod 57 and weight 58 similar to that previously described. The disc 42 has a lug 66 thereon on which is secured a coiled spring 67 which is sufliciently stiff to normally assume a straight position. The other end of the spring engages an extension 68 on a supporting member 69 which includes an upper shoulder 70 and a lower shoulder 71. A vreversible elastic head 7 2 engages the supporting member 69. The modi cation just described may be usedV in connection with the receptacle previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel golf tee which is simple in construction and eiiicient in use.

Having thus described my invention, Iv

claim:

1. In an automatic golf tee, and in combination with a teeing surface, a stem, said stem having a ball supporting portion thereon, means to support said stem for pivotal movement and means whereby the axis of pivotal movement of the stem may be shifted vertically to vary the position of the ball supporting portion.

2. In an automatic tee, a receptacle adapted to be imbedded within a teeing surface and including an apertured top, a stem, said stem having a golf ball receiving member at one end, a shaft on said stem and in vertical alignment therewith, a plurality of vertically spaced supports for said shaft within said receptacle and means whereby the shaft may be adjusted vertically on its supports to vary the height of said tee.

3. In an automatic golf tee, a hollow receptacle including side walls and a top and having an opening in the top thereof, said receptacle being adapted to be sunk in a teeing surface, converging vanes arrayed at the sides Yof said aperture and a downwardly directed iin at one end thereof, an axle support arranged on each side wall thereof and adjacent to the bottom thereof, said supports each ncluding aportion secured to the side wall and a portion spaced from and parallel to the side wall, said last mentioned portion including` a slot, said slot including an entrance portion, a deflecting portion, and a pair of axle supporting portions arranged at different heights, a stem, an axle on said stem, said axle being disposed on one of said axle supporting portions, a golf ball supporting member arranged upon the end of said stem, and

-means to maintain said stem in operative tioned end flange having a downwardly directed lin thereon, an axle support arranged in said case on each side thereofand adjacent to the bottom thereof, said supports each including a portion secured to the side wall of the case and a portion spaced from and parallel to the side wall, said last mentioned portion including a slot, said slot including an entrance portion, a deflecting portion and a pair of axle supporting portions arranged at different heights, a stem, an axle on said stem, a golf ball supporting head arranged upon the end of said stem and means to cause said stem to normally assume a substantially vertical position. v

5. In an automatic golf tee, a hollow sleeve having an open top and an open bottom and adapted to be sunk in a teeing surface, a case comprising a top and a pair of sides adapted to telescope within said sleeve, means to support said case with the top thereof parallel with the top of the sleeve, a rubber cover, said cover including a top and side flanges fitting over said sleeve, there being aligning apertures in one end of said case and cover, said cover also having flanges fitting within said case aperture, said last mentioned flanges including converging vanes and said last mentioned end iiange having a downwardly directed lin thereon, an axle support arranged in said case on each side thereof and adjacent to the bottom thereof, said supports each including a portion secured to the side wall of the case and a portion spaced from and parallel to the side of the case, said last mentioned portion including a slot, said slot comprisin g an entrance portion, a deflecting portion and a pair of axle supporting portions arranged at different heights, a stem, an axle on said stem, said axle being disposed on the bottom of one of said pair offaxle supporting portions, a rod on said axle, said rod having a weight thereon and being arranged at an angle to said stem and a golf ball supporting member arranged upon the end of said stem, said member projecting above said cover.

6. In an automatic golf tee, a hollow receptacle, a ball supporting stem pivotally mounted in said receptacle on an axis disposed adjacent to the bottom of said receptacle, means on said stem to engage a ball, the axis of said stem Vintersecting the axis of said pivot and means in said receptacle for normally maintainnigI said stem in any one ofia plurality of predetermined positions7 said means being verticallyspaced. Y

7. In an. automatic golf tee, and-in combination-With a teeingeurface, a stern, a, plurality of verticallyispaced bearings, means for pivoteily mountingsaid Stem in operative position on any one of said bearings.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiix my RUSH W. IRISH.

U5 signature. 

